CTE Programs: Sports Medicine

Deborah Diaz, Jessica Arellano, and Ashley Vera
January 11, 2022

The Sports Medicine program allows students like Monica Luna, 12, to gain experience aiding withstudent athletes during football games and practices.

Luna has developed skills and instincts that have helped her become a reliable resource for Downey athletes. “Do not press a bad situation; an example is if our tape isn’t good enough, trust aninstinct and don’t let the hurt person go out and play, even if they’re forcing,” Luna states.Having taken the courses from Sports Medicine 1 to Advanced Sports Medicine, Luna feels prepared andready to continue her studies to work in the field of athletic training and sports rehabilitation.

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About the Contributors

Deborah Diaz, Photographer

First-year photographer in The Downey Legend, Deborah Diaz, 12, appreciates what it means to build new bonds with her peers along with acknowledging time spent with family and friends. Not only does Diaz dote on making new friends, but also cares to make a difference in the world with her desire to help others. She aspires to attend college, USC in preference, to become a doctor. Diaz has her heart set on this future goal in hopes to assist those affected by heart diseases and cancer. Diaz’s passion was sparked due to her family’s history of heart cancer, making it high risk.

In addition to photography, Diaz recently expanded her creative state of mind during quarantine when she began to paint. “In my free time, I like to paint because it distracts me…it’s pretty, especially with color coordination,” Diaz states. “I like to paint on a canvas the certain things that my mom or aunts want me to paint, such as the Chanel Coco perfume fragrance or The Powerpuff Girls.”

Jessica Arellano, Social Media

As she starts out her first year on The Downey Legend, Jessica Arellano, 12, decided to be a part of the social media group while working hard being on the Downey cheerleading team as well. She’s been cheering both in school and outside competitively for a total of 8 years as a flyer. Aside from her love of the sport, Arellano has an interest in business and started a small online jewelry shop, “Daisies and Jewels,” having hopes for it to grow.

“I saw beaded rings on social media and thought they were so cute so I bought some beads to try out; my family liked them and told me I should start selling them,” Arellano said. “Now my business is doing good, so many people have been so supportive and it's so cool to see them wearing the jewelry I made.”

Ashley Vera, Photographer

Starting her first year apart The Downey Legend as a photographer, Ashley Vera, 12, is very passionate about helping others as much as she can, by being a part of ‘Link Crew’ here on campus. She hopes to continue being a good samaritan after high school. Vera is planning on expanding her academic career and wants to start off her career in pediatric oncology at the University of Irvine, and then transfering to UCLA after to expand her career. Outside of school hours, Vera loves to watch and play softball. As a kid, she actually started off as a dancer, but she went on to share how something about softball just ‘clicked’ for her and she has been playing ever since. She believes that the thing that made her talented at the sport with a great amount of practice.

“Practice makes you better, not perfect.” Vera explains. “Because nobody is perfect.”